Nation Championship: Day 2 On The Water

Headed back into an area known as “Boggy,” we find Fabian Rodriguez looking for his first fish. The Top 3, plus John Proctor who’s in 6th place, are all fishing this area.

Rodriguez drops a spinnerbait just beyond a laydown hoping to find his starter fish.

Through the cypress trees, Procter is located.

The swamp is coming to life as more light penetrates the cloud cover.

Proctor is looking for his first fish, as well.

Across a flat of open water, Day-1 leader Jamie Laiche is working a stand of cypress trees.

We were warned that our fiberglass boat would not make it all the way to Laiche. He evidently had to push-pole his way across the shallow and stump-filled water to access his spot.

Here is a view of “Boggy” …

… another angle.

Don’t let the open water fool you, its full of stumps!

Just beyond another stand of cypress trees is Albert Collins who started his day in third place. He said he had a decent limit already, and even culled a few times.

A few seconds later, he hooks up.

The fish breaks the surface …

… Collins continues to work the fish …

… and manages a nice upgrade.

He moves off and keeps catching fish.

The cypress trees seem to play a role in the pattern each of the anglers are focusing on. Of course, this shouldn’t be a surprise since the trees are literally eve-ry-where.

At this point, Brett Preuett and I are lodged on a stump, and while Preuett is doing his best to get us free, Collins hooks up again.

He battles the fish to the boat …

… flips it in, but it doesn’t help. He quickly releases it, and continues to cast.

Directly between our positoin and the Day-1 leader is a ridge covered by an inch or two of water. There is no possible way we could get any closer. But, you’ll notice that several of the anglers fishing in “Boggy” are doing so from smaller, flat-bottom aluminum boats. They are not as spacious or comfortable, but they are the ticket for finding bass lurking in skinny water.

On our way out, we find Rodriguez dislodging his Ranger from a stump with a push pole; a necessary tool for bass anglers in this part of the country.

He takes a minute to show us a couple of the fish he just caught. It's a limit he feels should weigh 12 to 13 pounds.<br>
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This is where an emotional story begins: Prior to take-off, Rodriguez received horrible news that his grandmother had passed away early this morning. After her encouragement during their last conversation, he knew he had to keep fishing. A peace came over him, and he made a handful of casts to a specific tree and caught his entire limit.

He takes a minute to show us a couple of the fish he just caught. It’s a limit he feels should weigh 12 to 13 pounds.
This is where an emotional story begins: Prior to take-off, Rodriguez received horrible news that his grandmother had passed away early this morning. After her encouragement during their last conversation, he knew he had to keep fishing. A peace came over him, and he made a handful of casts to a specific tree and caught his entire limit.

Feeling very blessed in the midst of tragedy, Rodriguez proved how faith plays a role in our day-to-day lives. Knowing he was just gifted a fine limit of fish, with his grandmother looking down, he decided to share his gift with fellow competitor John Proctor. He explained what to use, and where to throw it.
Before we pulled up, Proctor managed to catch four nice fish from the very spot Rodriguez had pointed out. He needed one more, and slung his spinnerbait to “The Tree.”

With Rodriguez, Preuett and myself looking on …

… Proctor hooks up …

… the battle ensues …

… fish goes airborne …

… he needs this fish to remain in contention …

… almost in-hand …

… the flip …

And, Proctor fills his limit. He instantly thanked Rodriguez over, and over again. He put his rod down, and decided to leave the area hoping to keep the pressure off of Rodriguez’s spot for tomorrow’s final day of competition.

With our three boats within easy talking distance, a clearly emotional Rodriguez shares the story in detail. He felt the right thing to do was share the spot at that moment.

During a time where the stress of loosing a loved one, and being in high contention to win the biggest event of his life, he chose to be selfless. He explained that his grandmother would have wanted it that way.

Fabain Rodriguez expressed his gratefulness to the Man upstairs, and thanked Proctor who immediately thanked him back.

Time to pick the rod back up and get back at it.

Rodriguez and Proctor share a few more words as they move on.

Proctor said: “I’m pretty sure we just witnessed ‘meant to be.’ This guy is going to win this tournament.”
Interestingly, Proctor represents South Carolina in the B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Division, while Rodriguez represents Delaware in the Mid-Atlantic Division, so the act of kindness won’t affect their divisional standings.